1) British & Indian relationship ( ): - British East India Company dominated India - Economic imperialism, at first

Transcription

1 1) British & Indian relationship ( ): - British East India Company dominated India - Economic imperialism, at first

2 2) Importance of India to the British Empire in the 19 th century: - India was a MAJOR supplier of raw materials and cash crops - India had a growing population of 300 million potential consumers, serving as a MAJOR foreign market (U.S. is about the same TODAY).

3 3) Britain used India to stimulate its own economy, while simultaneously stifling the Indian economy by exporting Indian resources for British manufacturing. by making India a captured market, whereby Indians were restricted to purchasing imported British goods (i.e. textiles!). by prohibiting Indian competition w/ Britain, forcing Indian entrepreneurs out of business. India existed to serve British economic interests! 4) Important raw materials exported from India to Britain: TEA, indigo (for dying cloth), coffee, cotton (esp. in the 1860 s!), jute, and OPIUM (an illegal narcotic, exported to China in exchange for tea, silk, porcelain)

4 5) Effects of British imperialism in India: NEGATIVE: - All political & economic power held by Britain (the Indian economy, and all native business restricted by Britain) - Cash-crop plantations replace subsistent (self-sufficient) farming in India: food production decreases, large British landholdings increase hunger & poverty POSITIVE: + Britain brings infrastructure, modernization to India (railroads, telegraph/telephone lines, dams, bridges, better irrigation engineering for agriculture). + Sanitation & public health marginally improves + Education & literacy (in English) improve + British eliminate local conflicts (in the interest of labor!)

5 6) As the British presence in India endures, Indian oppositional reactions grow: Indian resentment, and nationalist feelings intensify (especially as Britain got wealthier off of India s economy, while most Indians remained poor)

6 7) Indian religious groups: 1. Hindus (majority) 2. Muslims (largest minority) 3. Sikhs (small minority) Sikhs remain loyal to British, often remaining in the service of the British as voluntary troops; were often marginalized by Hindus and Muslims, and thus had somewhat better treatment under the British. 8) Outome of the Sepoy Mutiny: The British take DIRECT control of India, transitioning from economic imperialism to COLONIALISM. INDIA IS TOO IMPORTANT TO BRITISH INDUSTRIAL ECONOMY TO LET GO OF (need materials and markets!)

7 9) Indian nationalist groups: Indian National Congress (1885) led by Hindus Muslim League (1906) led my Muslims Both will begin to cooperate against British imperialism in the early 1900 s. Original goals: Better treatment & fairness for all Indians in India, as equal citizens of the British Empire. Eventual goals: Full independence and self-rule, free of British imperialism.

8 10) Indian differences benefit British imperialism: Sectarian conflict & competition between India s Hindus and Muslims prevent a more unified resistance against British imperialism. British will use this state of affairs and promote religious differences to their advantage (divide & conquer). Despite obstacles, India will eventually achieve sovereignty from British imperialism, in 1947, after 90 years of direct British rule, thanks to

9 BONUS - Class vs. Caste: Alike: BOTH are systems of social hierarchy Different: - Class is based on economics, caste is based on religion. - There is the possibility of upward movement with classes (class mobility), although this may take multiple generations to occur. - There is NO social mobility in a caste system (except through the idea of reincarnation rebirth in the next life, at a higher or lower status, based on faithful obedience and living a righteous life ).

10 Despite obstacles, India will eventually achieve sovereignty from British imperialism, in 1947, after 90 years of direct British rule, thanks to